The Wayfinder's Apprentice (Shadows of the Umbra Book 1)

by K Dezendorf

  “Took you long enough." He was smiling. “Congratulations, child. You passed.”

  "You... were watching... this whole time,” she guessed, her words spoken between heavy breaths.

  He nodded. "Aye."

  "You watched me almost drown, and get shot to death with medicine, and eaten by dog-chairs, and... and everything."

  He nodded again. "Aye. It looks like you picked up on my tricks.”

  She followed his gaze, and saw her doppelganger had disappeared. In its place was a mannequin laying still on the floor.

  “A mixture of mind and matter magic,” Billy continued. “Effective if you’re looking to drive your target mad."

  Rose collapsed down into a sitting position, thoroughly exhausted. Unfortunately, she couldn’t take all the credit. Once again, she had Macklass to thank, as the rest of the memory played out in her head.

  “In the meantime, it wouldn’t be a terrible idea if you continued training with Hadwin,” Macklass suggested. “It will give you an advantage when facing an opponent.”

  “You and your siblings, you always talk about facing enemies.” Rose noted. “It’s almost like you guys are at constant war.”

  Macklass’ face became somber. “I apologize. I suppose old habits are difficult to break. All of us were raised to fight. Our father was...” He cut himself off, looking away from her. His normally soft voice dropped to a whisper that was near imperceptible. “Actually, it’s best if you don’t know.”

  “All right, if that’s how you feel,” she agreed, placing her hand next to his so that their pinkies touched. “I can wait until you’re ready.”

  Macklass’ hand gripped hers gently, a silent show of his appreciation for her understanding. “I do wish you could have met my mother.”

  “Yours, specifically?” When he nodded, she asked, “So… you don’t all have the same parents then?” Her tone was cautiously neutral as she felt she was still treading on sensitive ground.

  “No, each of us had different mothers.” He took a deep breath and slowly released it through his nose. “So our talents and bloodsin are varied.”

  “That doesn’t matter much though does it?” Rose asked tentatively. “I mean, you’re all still family, and you care about each other. That’s what’s important, right?”

  Macklass looked at her, and a very faint smile briefly crossed his face. “Indeed.”

  Rose let a few beats of silence pass before making her next inquiry. “I know Jerome practices fire and life magic, but I don’t know much about Jenkto. I guess she doesn’t like to brag as much.”

  A soft, low chuckle escaped him. “She knows a little of earth magic, but her talents lay mostly in mind magic. She’s like you, in a way, prefers not to go on the direct offense. She much prefers tricking the enemy, turning their own minds against themselves. It’s actually how we were able to make our home here.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Jenkto used her mind magic on the owner to get him to hand ownership over to her. Then he and the other humans left.”

  Rose was shocked to hear this. “But that means people lost their jobs, their livelihood.”

  “I understand it wasn’t ideal,” Macklass said seriously. “But we didn’t hurt anyone, and we needed someplace safe for us.”

  Well, she couldn’t exactly fault them for that. And, who knows? Maybe the people working there found something better. So, Rose did her best to put it from her mind.

  Wanting to change the subject, she asked, “Would it be okay if… I could see your magic again? Just a little bit?”

  Macklass’ eyes flickered to the doorway, then back to her. If there was one thing each of the siblings had in common, it was that they loved showing off. Even Macklass, though he was far more subtle about it. “I suppose just a little bit more couldn’t hurt.”

  Rose winced when she felt Billy’s hand on her shoulder, ripping her mind back to the present. He was looking over her wounds. "They're not too severe. I should be able to take care of it." His hand glowed a soft white light. She felt warmth spread through her body, gently pulsing along the areas where she'd been hurt. She watched as the cuts sealed up enough to where she was no longer bleeding.

  "So that potion I drank, that wasn’t real either," she mumbled.

  "No, child. This whole place was rigged up." He nodded his head towards the double doors. "There's no more water, my room is fine. There's no missing potions. It was mostly illusion magic, to a certain degree."

  I knew it. Rose laughed.

  "It's training," he explained. "What you experienced here was nothing compared to what you're going to face over there. Not only that, but I had to crack open your mind, get you to be aware when something is being done to you, and figuring out what. You’re a little impulsive, and maybe too curious for your own good, but you have good instincts. So now that you finally finished..." He was interrupted when Rose started giggling and laughing.

  "I did it!" she shouted gleefully. "I survived!"

  "I'm willing to teach you magic," he continued with a smile. "If you're still interested after surviving all of this. You still have a lot to learn, but you passed the test, and I'm a man of my word." He straightened up. "All right, so let's get you dried off and new clothes. I’ll make some food while you get changed."

  Billy lent her some garments, a bowling shirt and khakis. They were a little pastel for her tastes, but it was something to wear until her own clothes dried. As she changed, she realized in horror that the journal she’d been carrying with her was completely soaked through. Her fingers trembled as she carefully peeled apart the wet pages, only to find the inked images smeared and faded. The journal Macklass had given to her was ruined.

  Rose took several deep breaths, trying to cope with the unexpected loss. For a wild moment, she blamed Billy, but then she scolded herself. It’s not his fault. How could he have known?

  The best thing she could do now was try to salvage it. She propped the journal open on top of the toilet’s tank to let it air dry, hoping the pages didn’t get permanently stuck together.

  Popping open her art tin, she found her phone dry and undamaged. At least the phone survived. She’d be distraught if she lost her only thread of contact with her friends.

  Once Rose was done changing, she put on a smile and went to the kitchen where she got to enjoy a nice chicken dinner with gravy. Halfway through the meal, Billy went to one of the lower cabinets and pulled out a bottle and two small glasses. He set them down on the table. With a quick flick of his wrist one of the glasses slid across the table towards her. "Look out, it moved!"

  Rose flinched but managed a small laugh. "Hardy har. Real funny."

  "Now, where I’m from, we always celebrate success with a nice hard drink. I figure this certainly counts.” He paused. “Although, aren't there rules and regulations in this world about children your age drinking?"

  She shrugged. "Technically, in another country, I'm of age."

  "In another world you're of age. I'm just checking. I don't want to ruin you any more than I have."

  "Trust me, I was ruined long before you came along," she said with a small smile. "Cheers."

  Billy poured amber liquid into her glass. "There you are."

  As she lifted the glass to her lips, the smell hit her and she hesitated as a shiver of trepidation rolled through her. Chad wasn’t around anymore, so there was no reason for her to be scared. Yet she felt anxious.

  “Everything all right, child?” Billy asked.

  “Yes,” Rose said quickly. Not wanting to be rude, she took a large swallow. It burned going down her throat, and kept burning all the way to her stomach where it sat there, warming her from the inside.

  "Wow," was all she could say, coughing.

  "Aye, it's 237 years old. Has a bit of a bite," he said, pouring himself a drink.

  "So, now that I've passed... you said there were others who've taken this test?" she asked curiously, pushing the rest of her drink aside.


  "To a degree. There are others who wanted to follow in our footsteps, I suppose you could say. And I felt it was necessary to ensure their insanity, and most... broke. No one really..." He caught the look on her face. "No one died, if that's what you're getting at. I’m usually able to heal those who get too roughed up."

  “That’s good at least. You must be incredibly talented," Rose said in amazement. "All the magic you've shown me so far, and you're able to heal."

  Billy shook his head. "My healing capabilities are minor. The last person was laid up for weeks. You, you took a bit of a gash to the side, that was it."

  I'm no stranger to dodging danger.

  "Well, you enjoy your dinner and drink,” he said. “Feel free to rest here tonight in the bed. I got some extra blankets, I'll sleep in the chair."

  "You don't have to do that for me. I'm okay sleeping on the-"

  "Don't worry about it, child," he insisted. "You deserve a decent night's sleep after all that."

  Rose smiled, her disposition towards the man beginning to warm. "Thank you."

  Once they were finished eating, Billy got an extra blanket for her, allowing her to get settled in for the night. Without her journal to sketch in, Rose felt restless.

  She had done it. She passed the test, and now she was going to learn magic. It was so exciting, and nerve wracking, and she found it difficult to lay still. Eventually she closed her eyes, and after a while, she finally drifted off to sleep.

  Chapter 14

  Rose found herself in a graveyard in front of a large mausoleum. She watched as a person emerged, fleeing from a group of three people, dodging fireballs and rocks. She wasn't certain who the person was, but she had a strong sense she had to help them.

  She tried to get a grip on the situation, what brought her here. This person made a mistake. A stupid, terrible mistake. They should’ve known what they were getting themselves into, yet they took the risk anyway. Now they were going to pay for it with their life. At least, they would have, but not when she could stop it.

  Stepping out of her hiding spot, Rose rushed forward, placing herself in front of the person trying to escape. It was a woman. At first Rose thought she was covered in blood. But no, that was just her skin. Red skin, thick dark hair, horns, and a tail. Her eyes widened at Rose’s sudden appearance as she cut across the woman’s front with a blade, leaving a gash.

  At first Rose was horrified with herself but then she realized the wound looked far worse than it was. A shallow cut that could be easily healed.

  The woman stumbled, but Rose grabbed her and pulled her close to whisper in her ear. “Play dead.”

  The woman’s expression was confused, but she followed the instructions and fell flat onto her back, eyes shut, the blood glistening on her skin and clothes.

  Rose looked up and saw Jenkto, Jerome, and Hadwin.

  “That was our quarry,” Jenkto said, her expression angry. “And you’re trespassing.”

  “Am I?” Rose asked, unapologetic. “I had no idea.” But that was a lie.

  Jenkto was about to say something, but another voice interrupted her.

  “You, you’re quite skilled.”

  It was a voice she had never heard before. It wasn't loud, but it carried an air of absolute and unrelenting authority. At the sound of it, all three of the siblings turned and went down into a kneeling position.

  Rose looked up to see… she couldn’t even really call him a man. She could barely see any features beyond the swirl of power emanating from him.

  “What is your name?”

  “Does it really matter?” she asked.

  “No, suppose it doesn’t. You unknowingly rid us of traitorous scum. Thereby, I ask you, join me.” His words and his tone didn’t match.

  He wasn't asking, he was demanding.

  Rose smiled at him. “Blow me. But in case that’s not clear enough for you...” And then a string of syllables, fluid and weaving fell from her lips. Words she couldn’t comprehend.

  What happened next, Rose could hardly describe. The man’s eyes flared. He gave a loud, roaring yell, and his power exploded. In a moment, Rose would be engulfed in the explosion.

  ************

  Rose’s eyes snapped open and she jolted up in bed. For several seconds she wasn't a hundred percent sure where she was. Not back at her old house, and not at Dimitri’s castle, and most certainly not in a creepy, dead looking place with Jenkto. Right... she was still in the warehouse with Billy.

  It took a moment for her to realize her pant leg was buzzing and she pulled out her phone. Macklass was calling her. Rose glanced over to see Billy still fast asleep in the armchair, snoring away.

  Making as little noise as possible, Rose crept out of bed and tip-toed to the door. She left the room and went out into the main warehouse area, accepting the call.

  “Hello?” Her voice sounded dry and groggy.

  “I apologize if I woke you.” Macklass’ voice was soft, contrite.

  “It’s fine. Is everything okay?”

  “I…” There was a lengthy pause. “I’d like to meet with you, if you’re able. Just for a little while.”

  Rose checked the time. It was after midnight. Most places would be closed. Not to mention, she didn’t even know exactly where she was. “Give me a minute.”

  Checking the GPS on her phone, she was pleasantly surprised to find that she was still in her home city. Macklass could probably drive to her within an hour.

  “Okay, let me give you the address.”

  Rather than giving him the nearest cross street, Rose gave him a location a few blocks away to meet her at. A small 24-hour drive through for coffee and donuts. She and Macklass may be dating, but she wasn't about to betray Billy’s already tenuous trust in her. Plus, this wasn't something Macklass needed to know about. Not yet, anyway.

  After promising to meet him there, Rose hung up the phone, snuck back into the bedroom for her sweater jacket, then went outside. A dark, wintery night was there to greet her. A faint layer of snow and ice coated the streets. Streetlights glowed softly, offering a bit of comfort against the dark.

  Shutting the door behind her, Rose pulled up her hood and crunched through the snow, burying her hands in her pockets and hunching against the cold. It only took her about twenty minutes to get there, and she didn’t run into anyone along the way. The shop was a small drive through just off the side of the road. The sign read: “Holey Coffee and Donuts!” Cute.

  It was a few more minutes before the sleek, black Mustang pulled up. Rose went over to the passenger side door and it was already unlocked for her. The car’s warm interior was welcoming and Rose all but flung herself into the passenger seat.

  Before she could say anything, Macklass had his arms around her, gripping her tightly. The strong smell of booze hit her unexpectedly and Rose froze as an echo of panic surged through her. Had he been drinking? That wasn't like him at all. It took a few breaths before she relaxed in his grip, but her happiness to see him was now mingled with concern.

  “I apologize,” he whispered in her ear. “For grabbing you so suddenly. I just…” He gripped her a little tighter. “It’s so good to see you.” His voice sounded coherent enough, if not despondent.

  Rose tentatively wrapped her arms around him and hugged him back, breathing him in. In spite of the unexpectedness of his lack of sobriety, she missed this. His voice, his warmth, his smell that she could just catch under the layer of spirits.

  Rose buried her face in his shoulder, his dark hair tickling her cheek, and she allowed herself to revel in the relief she felt, knowing that he still cared for her. Perhaps the conversation she overheard was merely a misunderstanding.

  “Is everything okay?” Rose asked him again. “You sounded… I dunno, stressed.” She didn’t ask him about the drinking. She had learned the hard way you never ask a person about that.

  Macklass slowly pulled away from her. His hand tenderly reached up to brush his thumb across her cheek, lovingly trac
ing a trail over the freckles on her skin. They had always fascinated him, and it made her dislike them a little less.

  Reluctantly, he pulled away from her. “Perhaps some food and drink first.”

  Five minutes later, after going through the drive through, they were sitting comfortably with two cups of black coffee and a package of donuts. Macklass got plenty extra to take home to his siblings.

  Several minutes of silence passed, where they simply sipped on coffee or nibbled at the deep-fried pastries. As much as she wanted to, Rose found herself unable to fully relax. A person coming to her smelling of booze was never a prelude to anything pleasant in her past experiences. Though, he wasn’t acting angry or upset. He seemed… heartbroken.

  “I’m sorry for disappearing like that,” Rose said after a time. “Things happened at home and… I had to go away for awhile. I wanted to let you know as soon as I could but… I wasn’t able to.”

  Macklass glanced at her. “As I said before, I’m merely grateful you’re safe. If you’re unable to go home, you know you can stay with us.”

  “But, Jenkto…” ...doesn’t want me anymore.

  “Things are… different now,” he said hesitantly. “Far from ideal but… you would be given stay with us, I’m certain of it.”

  “Different, how?”

  Macklass looked away from her, his eyes gazing out his window. “Do you remember Andros?”

  “Your older brother.” She’d never met him, but the siblings had spoken of him. “I remember.”

  “Andros is…” He stopped himself, then cleared his throat. “He was the best of us. The most responsible, and the most noble. Even though we were all just half siblings, he loved all of us. He took care of us, and taught us how to love each other. He believed family was the most important thing in the world. When we first came here to try to learn more about humans, we were all nearly caught. But Andros, he sacrificed himself so that we would stay free.”

  Rose didn’t say anything. It was clear that Macklass wanted to get something off of his chest. Though, she noted his usage of the past tense, and a flood of dread seeped in.